Open Recommendations

Embassy Muscat, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should determine if the purchase of bottled drinking water is necessary, in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat should require supervisors to approve staff requests for overtime in advance, in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat, in coordination with the Bureaus of Budget and Planning, the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, and Near Eastern Affairs, should reprogram additional Department-funded Diplomatic Technology positions to International Cooperative Administrative Support Services-funded positions in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat should implement a local configuration management protocol to comply with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat should bring telephone operations into compliance with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat should require all Diplomatic Technology staff to complete the required information assurance training in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Muscat should implement an acquisition plan that is cost effective and efficient in accordance with Department standards.

We recommend that FWS require the Department to develop an internal mechanism to ensure that all subawards with Federal funding over $30,000 are reported through fsrs.gov, as required in the Code of Federal Regulations.

We recommend that FWS require the Department to provide training regarding subaward monitoring and public reporting requirements to all grant managers and others responsible for the administration of subawards to ensure policies and procedures are being followed in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations and State policy.

(U) Rec. 1: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief of Staff of the Army conduct a review of Army units responsible for conducting joint logistics over-the-shore missions and determine what recommendations should be made to the Secretary of the Army on force structure, training, and equipment acquisition and maintenance to meet the Army's requirement to conduct joint logistics over-the-shore. At a minimum, the Chief of Staff's recommendations should include the development and implementation of an action plan to improve the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) readiness to meet established Service manning, training, and equipment readiness standards, as well as any…

(U) Rec. 2: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief of Naval Operations conduct a review of Navy units responsible for conducting joint logistics over-the-shore missions and determine what recommendations should be made to the Secretary of the Navy on force structure, training, and equipment acquisition and maintenance to meet the Navy's requirement to conduct joint logistics over-the-shore. At a minimum, the Chief of Naval Operations' recommendations should include the development and implementation of an action plan to improve Naval Beach Group 1's readiness to meet established Service manning and equipment readiness standards, as well as any future joint mission…

(U) Rec. 3.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command develop and implement a plan to meet their assigned responsibilities as the Joint Deployment and Distribution Coordinator for the DoD's joint logistics over-the-shore capabilities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5158.06, "Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise Planning and Operations." At a minimum, the plan should include requirements to coordinate with the geographic combatant commanders, Military Services, and Joint Staff to develop, implement, and annually refine both joint and Service-specific mission-essential task lists for the DoD's joint logistics over-the-shore capability.

(U) Rec. 3.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command develop and implement a plan to meet their assigned responsibilities as the Joint Deployment and Distribution Coordinator for the DoD's joint logistics over-the-shore capabilities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5158.06, "Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise Planning and Operations." At a minimum, the plan should include requirements to conduct capabilities-based assessments, research, and development for joint logistics over-the-shore equipment and provide recommendations to the Military Services for retention, modification, retirement, or transition of systems to improve interoperability.

(U) Rec. 3.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command develop and implement a plan to meet their assigned responsibilities as the Joint Deployment and Distribution Coordinator for the DoD's joint logistics over-the-shore capabilities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5158.06, "Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise Planning and Operations." At a minimum, the plan should include requirements to establish and chair a joint logistics over-the-shore working groupthat meets annually to identify and address gaps by aligning joint logistics over-the-shore planning, programming, budgeting, and execution functions with projected combatant command operational requirements. Membership in the working group…

(U) Rec. 3.d: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command develop and implement a plan to meet their assigned responsibilities as the Joint Deployment and Distribution Coordinator for the DoD's joint logistics over-the-shore capabilities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5158.06, "Join Deployment and Distribution Enterprise Planning and Operations." At a minimum, the plan should include requirements to provide a report to the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff identifying ongoing challenges or gaps related to joint logistics over-the-shore and recommending policies, procedures, or actions necessary to better align the DoD's…

The Veterans Health Administration chief operating officer establishes a written policy or procedure to reasonably ensure that potential conflicts of interest or appearance of partiality concerns involving VHA employees are identified and remediated before contractor presentations to Veterans Integrated Service Network or facility leaders.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 director confirms that VA has initiated the process to seek recoupment of the critical skill incentive paid by VA to Ms. Skala that was attributable to a service period that she did not complete due to her retirement.

The assistant secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness directs a review to determine whether any VHA employee ranked GS‑15 or above awarded a critical skill incentive has left VA before completing their required service obligation, and, if so, whether VA has established a debt and initiated recoupment in the amount of the CSI attributable to the uncompleted period, and takes further corrective actions as warranted.

The Veterans Health Administration chief operating officer establishes a written policy or procedure to reasonably ensure that potential conflicts of interest or appearance of partiality concerns involving VHA employees are identified and remediated before contractor presentations to Veterans Integrated Service Network or facility leaders.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 director confirms that VA has initiated the process to seek recoupment of the critical skill incentive paid by VA to Ms. Skala that was attributable to a service period that she did not complete due to her retirement.

The assistant secretary for Human Resources and administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness directs a review to determine whether any VHA employee ranked GS-15 or above awarded a critical skill incentive has left VA before completing their required service obligation, and, if so, whether VA has established a debt and initiated recoupment in the amount of the CSI attributable to the uncompleted period, and takes further corrective actions as warranted.

Improve vulnerability management processes to ensure all vulnerabilities are identified and plans of action and milestones are created for vulnerabilities that cannot be mitigated by VA deadlines.

Implement a more effective baseline configuration process to ensure network devices are running authorized software that is configured to approved baselines and free of vulnerabilities.

Improve vulnerability management processes to ensure all vulnerabilities are identified and plans of action and milestones are created for vulnerabilities that cannot be mitigated by VA deadlines.

Implement a more effective baseline configuration process to ensure network devices are running authorized software that is configured to approved baselines and free of vulnerabilities.